MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 27: Lisa Bradley, Co-Founder & CEO of R.Riveter

Show Notes

Join host Rod Loges as he sits down with Lisa Bradley, co-founder and CEO of R.Riveter, a handbag company creating flexible, mobile work opportunities for military spouses across America.

In this episode:

• Lisa's journey from small-town Montana to military spouse entrepreneurship
• Starting R.Riveter at 24 in an attic above a garage
• Building a distributed manufacturing network employing military spouses nationwide
• The "dependent" label that sparked a mission to empower military families
• Growing 1700% after appearing on Shark Tank in 2016
• Creating handbags from upcycled military materials with meaning and purpose
• Overcoming manufacturing challenges while competing with overseas production
• The Heirloom Line: transforming military uniforms into custom keepsakes
• Granting $2,100 to military spouses to start their own businesses
• Expanding into retail locations and upcoming men's product line

Key takeaways:

• Financial literacy from age 13 prepared Lisa for entrepreneurship
• Military spouse employment challenges drove innovation in flexible work
• Every R.Riveter product directly supports military families
• Manufacturing in America requires creative problem-solving and efficiency
• Building community through shared military experience creates lasting impact
• Giving back multiplies success – grants help other spouses launch businesses

Guest: Lisa Bradley, Co-Founder & CEO of R.Riveter

• Website: https://www.rriveter.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-bradley-50778b54/ 

Lisa Bradley grew up in Montana where her entrepreneur parents taught her QuickBooks at age 13. After marrying into the Army at 21, she experienced firsthand the employment challenges facing military spouses through four moves in six years. In 2011, alongside co-founder Cameron Cruse, Lisa launched R.Riveter from an attic in Georgia. 

Today, R.Riveter employs military spouses nationwide, creates meaningful products from military materials, and provides grants to help other military spouses start their own businesses. Lisa has been recognized by the National Retail Federation as one of 25 people reshaping retail's future and honored among Central Ohio's remarkable women in 2023.

Looking ahead: R.Riveter is expanding retail locations near military bases and launching their first men's line in late October.

The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

Sponsored by One Degree Financial
www.onedegreefinancial.com

Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at milcomfounders.com